Improvement in rice-hullers



" PATENT EEIcE.

MILTON E. sr'ncv, OE TEoMAsviLLE, GEORGIA.

IMPROVEMENT INy RICE-HULLERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No 136,942, dated March 181873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON E. STACY, of Thomasville, in the county of Thomas and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rice-Haller, of which the following is a specification:

Figure l is a top view of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section ofthe same taken through the line x Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section of thesame taken through the line y y, Fig. l. i

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The invention consists in the improvement of rice-hullers, as hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

A is the bed or mortar, which is made of a single block of wood or of several blocks secured to each other. In the upper side of the block or bed A is formed a ring-groove, a', the inner side vof which inclines toward the center and the outer side rises more abruptly, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. ,The block or bed A is surrounded with a frame or crib, B, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3. C is a shaft, which passes through and works in a hole in the center of the bed A. The ends of the shaft work in bearings in the frame of the machine below and above the bed A, and are so arranged that the said shaft may move up and down, as more or less rice may be in the groove c. To. the shaft G above"L the bed A are attached radial arms or aXle-s D, to the ends of which are pivoted wheels E in such positions as to roll along the ring-groove a', and operate upon the rice in said groove. F are radial arms attached to the shaft C. To one or both the arms F is rigidly attached a brush or scraper, G, to push the rice from the inclined middle part of Athe bed A down into the groove a', so that allparts of the rice may be operated by the Wheels E. With one or both the arms F is connected a brush or scraper, H, to smooth down the rice in the groove a and bring it into better position to be operated upon by the wheels E. The brush or scraper H is rigidly attached to a rod, I, which works in bearings attached to the arm F, so that the brush H may be lowered into the groove a, or raised into a horizontal position, by rockin g the said rod I. To the side of the inner end of the rod I is pivoted the upper end of a rod, J, which passes down along the side of the shaft C, and is attached to a sleeve or collar, K, placed upon the lower part of the shaft O, and connected with it by a pin passing through a slot in said. shaft, or by a feather and groove,or in any convenient manner that will allow the said sleeve or collar to move up and down upon'the shaft C, while being carriedaround by and with said shaft in its revolution. The collar or sleeve K rests upon the lever L, one end of which is pivoted to the frame-work of the machine, and to its other or free end is attached a rod,

M, that passes up through or at the side of the bed A, so that by operatin g the rod M the sleeve `or collar K may be raised to raise the brush or scraper H into a horizontal position when desired. The rice is fedinto the groove c from a hopper, N, placed within the crib or frame B, as shown in Figs. l and 3, or inv any other convenient position. The dischargeopening of the hopper N should be providedv with a gate to enable the admission of the rice to be readily controlled. In one or more points a discharge-opening is formed in the bed A, through which the rice when hulled is drawn off, and which is closed with a gate, O. If desired a run of stones may be connected with the shaft C and middle part of the bed A to partially hull the rice before it is admitted to the groove c. The bed A is provided with a rim hoop or flange, P, at the edge of the outer side of the groove a', as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, to keep the rice from being forced outward by the action of the wheels E.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, with the mortar A hatrn ing the ring-groove a with its inner side ina clined toward the center, of the scraper G, as and for the purpose described.

2. The brushH, arranged to rotate over the bed a', as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with arm F that holds the brush H, of pivoted rod I, rod J sleeve 5. rI'he combination of the brush or scrapery K, lever L, and rod M, applied substantially H with the bed A, shaft C, arms D, and Wheels as and for the purpose described. E, substantially ashereiu shown and described,

4. The combination of the arm or arms F and for the purpose set forth.

aud brush or scraper G with the bed A, shaft MILTON ELBERT STAOY.

C, arms D, and wheel E, substantially as here- Witnesses:

iu shown and described, and for the purpose EZRA STACY,

set forth. LAFAYETTE STEUART QUARTERMAN. 

